Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Trim your hedgehog's nails

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Immediately following a bath the best time to trim nails as they are softened somewhat by the warm water. Depending on the activity level and temperament of your hedgehog, nail trimming can be quick and painless or may require a vet's assistance. We find this is usually a two-person operation.

Hold your hedgehog right-side up and wait until a foot drops between your fingers, then hold it firmly but gently. The second person can then move in and trim the nails on that foot. Be very careful of the quick, but use a little cornstarch or a styptic pencil if the toe bleeds. Repeat for each foot as needed. We often find that the nails on the front feet wear down quicker than the nails on the back feet and require less frequent trimming.

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Article By : http://hedgies.com/hedgehog_how_to.htm#welcome

How to uncurl a hedgehog

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To handle a hedgehog, place your hand on each side of him and gently cup him in your hand. Use great caution not to place your fingers in the middle. They can ball up quickly and your finger can get caught in the middle of a bunch of quills being squeezed together by very strong muscles. If this happens, you will need to gently uncurl him to ease his anxiety. First pick him up, and turn him over on his back to identify where the nose is located. Hold the hedgehog by his back with the head under your fingers. Gently rock forwards and backwards, and when the nose starts to show the front legs will also emerge. As the legs reach for the ground, gently put the hedgehog down.

Bonding with a hedgehog is quite different than bonding with other animals. The hedgehog has very poor eyesight, and their hearing isn't much better, so they bond using their sense of smell, which is highly developed. Don't use gloves when handling a hedgehog or he won’t know who you are. If you want him to learn to identify your smell as being that of a friend, don't change your odor each day by wearing different perfumes. Spend a great deal of time with your new friend. It is better to spend small amounts of time frequently than large amounts of time infrequently, so that he gets used to having you around. Find an old article of clothing that has no loose threads or holes, wear it for a day, and then place it in his cage so he can adjust to your smell.

A hedgehog can be a special pet for the right person, but they aren’t as cuddly and cute as they look. Many hedgehogs have suffered because of people purchasing them as a fad item and then losing interest, so be sure to do your research first to be sure you are really interested in taking care of a hedgehog. If you are a responsible pet owner, a hedgehog can make a wonderful little pet for you, especially if you have a busy lifestyle or cramped quarters. They can be interesting and entertaining, and best of all, you won’t have to take them for a walk when it’s raining outside!

By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 3/1/2005

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Article By : http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/3-1-2005-66413.asp

Bathe a hedgehog

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So your hedgehog annointed with something unpleasant and needs a bath? To begin, assemble your bath necessities.
  • No-tears formula baby shampoo (a trial size will last a long time)
  • Soft-bristled toothbrush
  • Towels for drying
A utility or kitchen sink works well, filled with two to three inches of warm water. Some hedgehogs enjoy a bath and will even swim in deeper water, but others will struggle and constantly attempt to climb out of the sink. (Common sense note: if your hedgehog does take a fancy to swimming, never, ever, leave them unattended in the water!) Hedgehogs will often poop in the water, so be prepared.

Lather a little shampoo in your hands and rub your pet down. We have more luck washing the underbelly first and then the quills. Once the quills have been nicely lathered, use the toothbrush to very gently get between the quills, particularly if your little friend has gotten into something particularly unpleasant. Rinse thoroughly. Sometimes, we reserve a large plastic cup full of warm water for rinsing if the hedgehog has decided to soil her bathwater. Pay special attention to the feet, which tend to become very dirty. You can use the toothbrush here as well. Once your hedgehog is clean, dry her in towels.

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Article By : http://hedgies.com/hedgehog_how_to.htm#welcome

Socializing Your Baby

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You will need to scoop your hedgehog up from underneath and take him out of the cage. To help wake your hedgehog up place him in your hand and tickle the top of his back until he opens up. While standing up, place him on your tummy face down to the floor and gently start petting his quills down but petting upward toward your head with one hand at a time. This is usually really helpful for me. Your hedgehog will need to be held at least once a day for 45 minutes to an hour to ensure good temperament.

The more you hold you hedgie the more social he will be. Hogets will go though quilling as a baby and up to 6 months. Quilling is when hedgehogs lose there baby quills and new stronger adult quills are coming through the skin. So it isn't uncommon for your hedgehog to get grumpy off and on until he he completely though quilling. Hedgehogs that are quilling will have some quill loss, you will see a few here and there but you shouldn't see any bold spots. If you look closely at his skin during this time you can see quills coming though the skin. His back will be tender and this is what causes him to be huffier then normal. You will still need to give him plenty of holding time, just be sure to play with him gently so you don't irritate his skin. Bathing your hedgehog in warm water can help with some of the discomfort

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Article By : http://www.hurricanehedgehogs.com/HedgehogCare.htm

Health

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Hedgehogs are susceptible to liver problems because their domestic diet often contains too much fat. Additionally, cancer is a big cause of death. Hedgehogs can develop stress-induced bowel irritability (green or runny feces being a symptom).
You may also notice your aging hedgehog develop what's known as wobbly hedgehog syndrome, where the characteristic gait of a hedgehog becomes wobbly and uncertain. A hedgehog's average domestic lifespan hovers around seven or eight years. To ensure that your hedgehog enjoys the fullest, healthiest possible life, it is your responsibility to find a good veterinarian and schedule occasional check-ups for your hedgehog (perhaps once every couple years). If you notice irregular behavior, loss of appetite, difficulty moving or defecating, eye or nose discharge, or other physical changes (temperature, skin health), consult a veterinarian and schedule an appointment.

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Habitat

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Your hedgehog shouldn't spend all her time in an enclosure, but it's important that you create for her a private sanctuary that is spacious, comfortable and filled with the necessities.
  • Plenty of room to roam - that's the first rule. Hedgehogs who feel like their mobility is impaired will be unhappy and unhealthy. They need room to run and play. They also need an enclosure with no floor gaps, as in the wire cages that mice, hamsters and other pets often call home; the long hedgehog legs can fall through these gaps. The style of walls in wire cages is also bad for your hedgehog, since he can climb. Consider a large plastic bin (the kind with the industrial look to it); with its large roaming space and smooth walls, it makes a good enclosure for hedgehogs.
  • As for bedding, common wood shavings like pine can contain harmful substances, so steer clear of them. Pet owners often use newspaper for bedding. For a luxurious experience, try giving your hedgehog some Vellux blanket bedding - perfectly safe and soft.

  • Of course, your hedgehog will also want a little cubby hole, a shelter where he can get away from it all. It could be anything from an old box to a piece of pipe, as long as it's large enough for your hedgehog.


  • The temperature of your hedgehog's environment should hover between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid direct sun exposure, but keep your hedgehog in a nicely lit part of your house.

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Article By : http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals/a4292-how-to-care-for-hedgehogs.html

How to tell if one is a Male or Female

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When you can get your hedgehog to uncurl in your hand, you would have to get them to lay flat on their backs.

Males penal sheath, the sex organ, is located about 2/3 down their tummy from their head. It looks much like a large belly button.

A females sex organ is located right next to the anus. If you are unable to get the hedgehog to uncurl in your hand, wait until they uncurl enough to get your hand under their front legs. Then hold them up placing the other hand under their bottom, and then sneak a peak.


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Article By : http://www.pcexotics.org/faqs.htm